Yolander Resource Blog

Been a long time since I have posted an update here. A lot has happened including a new design (Control panel still needs work), new and very strict submission guidelines plus a spam list of around 300 words/phrases (and growing) to help filter out spam submissions.

Yolander will NEVER be a spam filled useless link farm.

The remodeling (long term) project consists of ripping up the floors to get at and delete dead things, get rid of a large amount of MFA sites, scraper sites and other junk which slipped through while I was learning.

The category structure is being redesigned and moving things around plus upgrading the spam insulation.

Read, understand and abide by the new submission guidelines if you want your resource listed here.

Finally, I have a list of some 300 personally selected and IMO high quality sites which will added over time.  Many of these are well aged with a number dating from the 1990’s

I am striving to stand apart from the thousands of ho-hum ’so called’ directories stinking up the internet.

I make it very clear that duplicate submissions will not be tolerated. Today duplicate submissions resulted in 27 listings being deleted from the database. Yes, ladies and gents there were exactly 27 duplicates submitted today. As per my terms the new submission and original get deleted.

On the lighter side some of the responses to rejection emails are soooooooo funny.  One recently received starts off (whole email is large bolded font) You ARE A MORON!! and goes on a rant about me not knowing anything about SEO or how to market a directory etc. etc. and that my directory will never get any standing.<!–more–>

Well, lets see we are under a year old and with a pr2 and an Alexa of  70,602. The SERPS are coming along but it is a long hard process.

Their site is a total piece of unethical junk with, I think a whopping 6 or so listings and the entry page is a poorly written piece of keyword stuffing spam. He may think Black Hat SEO will make him rich but I will not hold mt breath.

No damn wonder this business has such a bad reputation.

Apologies to anyone effected. I made a major mistake last night which resulted in having to reload the database. A number of submissions from June 11/12 were lost.

Appears to be functioning.

The terms and conditions need to be brought up to date.

Now offering Featured and Sponsor options. 365 days renewable. Each will be displayed more prominately than the basic.  Featured and Sponsor example http://yolander.com/ceramics-pottery/ceramic-artists/

I am not happy with the 404 error display -  on my ‘to do’ list.

Submissions are open.

While there is still some background work to be done I will be taking the site down shortly. If things go well it will be back up sometine this evening.

Update - 3:30 pm cst - install done - now get the database moved - fingers crossed - the part most likely to crap out.

I hope to have the major work done and the move done by June 13th.

I will be closing submissions sometime in the next few days.  Will be changing the script being used and implementing a new look.  Am building the template now and working on the database conversion.

The site should be fully functional except submissions until the move is made.  Hopefully the actual move will only take a few hours.

Made it today. It took 13764 submissions to reach 5,019 resources listed.

First off, the spam commenting bots both make me laugh and piss me off at the same time but I guess it isn’t much different than the garbage submitted by the ‘rip off’ directory submission services.  Just a waste of time and the suckers money.

Now to business. Yolander is quickly approaching the 5,000 resources listed goal which means I have some decisions to make on what to do next. Close submissions while finding duplicates and dead links and/or continuing with strictor guidelines while doing same, converting to paid or selling advertising… Also thinking about a complete overhaul of the look and maybe converting to Indexu. Or just continue and set a goal of 7,500 resources. Decisions, decisions, decisions (or try to sell as Estibot.com values my little project at $12,000 with an Alexa of 82,887 as of today. Higher than a kite price if you ask me)

A few days ago I received a submission http://www.toughtimeslawyer.com/ and when looking I decided ok, that is cool and added it to the database.  Guess what, the spamming jerk submitted http://bankruptcy.toughtimeslawyer.com/ and any time I see a subdomain I take a closer look.  You got it, basically an attempt to get the same site listed multiple times.

On my site this is a great big no-no as when I catch it not only does the current submission get ‘kicked to the curb’ but the original listing gets deleated.